Pressure-actuated circuit breaker



P. B. PARKS ET AL PRESSURE ACTUATED CIRCUIT BREAKER March 8, 1927. 1,620,127

F il ed March 8,1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 P. B. PARKS ET AL rlwssum ACTUATED CIRCUIT BREAKER March 8 by a cup 47 clamped against the leather by means of a nut 48 on the threaded end 49 of stem 44, the stem itself being secured to the'piston by nut 48. When the piston is in its lower position the end 49 of stem 44 rests upon a projection 50 on the bonnet 51 which closes the outer end of the cylinder.

At one side of the cylinder is a hollow struc-' ture 52, preferably cast integral with the cylinder into the bottom of which is threaded a pipe 53. The chamber 54 in the structure 52 communicates through port 55 with the chamber 56 below piston 43. A coiled spring 57 is interposed between the piston 43 and the upper end of cylinder 42. The upper face of the piston is preferably provided with a gasket 58, seated in a suitable recess, which gasket is adapted to bear against a circular rib 59 formed on the upper end of the cylinder to prevent leakage of fluid pressure when the piston is raised. 60 is a coiled spring centered by a stud 61 on the base 11 with its upper end arranged to bear against the under side of the rocking member 27.

Operation-.In the absence of fluid pressure against the under side of piston 43, gravity and the action'of spring 57 keep the piston in its lower position as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. In this position the upper end of the stem 44 stands at some distance below the outer end of the rocking member 27. The inner end of the rocln'ng member is held up by spring 60 so that the roller 26 occupies a circuit closing position in the gap between the contact springs 22 and 23.

y The contact springs will be slightly flexed toward the face of block 12 so as to insure proper contact. a

When fluid pressure is. introduced into the chamber 56 from pipe '53 through chamber 54 and port 55 the piston 43 is raised compressing spring 57 which brings the stem 44 into contact withthe outer end of the rocking member 27 which is turned on its pivot so that the roller 26 moves downwardly 0n the contact spring 23 flexing it toward the block and compressing the coiled spring 60. This position of the rocking member and associated parts is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and involves breaking the circuit through wires 15 and 16. As soon as the pressure back of piston 43 disappears spring 60 reacts to return the rock- 1ng member to its horizontal or circuit closing position with the roller 26 in the gap between contact springs 22 and 23.

In order to break the circuit by manual operation of the device pull rod 38 is raised so as to swing the rocking member 27 in the upward direction to raise the roller 26 away from the gap between the contact springs 22 and 23 as shown in Fig. 1. The

roller rides over the bend in spring 22 in making this movement and the bent shape The spring'60 is designed so that it will exert force enough to move the rocking member from its tilted down position to its horizontal or circuit closing position against the force exerted by the lower contact spring 23 but in the circuit closing position of the rocking member the spring is compressed but little if any so that it has no appreciable tendency to lift the rocking member above the gap.

When the roller is moved into and out of the gap it has a wiping action on the contact springs which besides keeping the springs clean produces a rotation of the roller so that its points of contact with the springs vary. The rocking movements of the bridging member 27 are limited by contact of the bridging member with the upper edges of the yoke 29.

the particular arrangement contemplated, is

put into control by closing the circuit governed by the circuit breaker which is the subject matter of this application while the high temperature thermostat is put into control of the system by breaking this circuit. For that reason the plunger 38 bears the numeral 50 to indicate the closure of the circuit and the numerals 7 O, 70 which, when either of the positions are directly above the upper edge of the bushing 39, indicate that the circuit governed by the circuit breaker is broken. Our invention, however, is capable of other uses than that just referred to.

While we have described our invention in a. preferred embodiment, it willbc understood that we contemplate any and all struc-' the scope of the the bridging member out of said gap in the other direction.

2. A circuit. breaker comprising, in comhination, a pair of spaced contact springs,

, a bridging member adapted to be interposed in the gap between said springs, a fluid pressure actuated device for moving said bridging member in one direction out of said gap, manually operated means for moving the bridging member out of said gap in the other direction, and a spring tending to hold the bridging member in'sai d gap against the action of said fluid pressure actuated device.

3. A circuit breaker comprising, in combination, a pair of spaced contact springs, a pivoted bridging member adapted to be interposed in circuit closing position in the gap between said springs, a fluid pressure actuated device for rocking said member in one direction out of said gap, and manually operated means for rocking said member out of the gap in the other direction.

4. A circuit breaker comprising, in combination, a pair of spaced contact springs, a bridging member comprising a lever and a roller thereon which is adapted to be interposed in the gap between said springs, a fluid pressure actuated device for moving said bridging member in one direction out of said gap, and manually operated means for moving the bridging member out of said gap in the other direction.

5. A circuit breaker comprising, in combination, a pair of spaced contact springs, a bridging member adapted to be interposed in circuit closing position in the gap between said springs, a fluid pressure actuated device for moving said bridging member in one direction out of said ga and a pull rod connected 'with said mem r for moving the same out of the gap in the opposite direction one of said contacts being formed to hold the bridging member in the last mentioned position.

6. A circuit breaker comprising, in combination, a pair of spaced contact springs, a bridging member adapted to be interposed in circuit closing position in the gap between said springs, a fluid pressure actuated device for moving said bridging member in one direction out of said gap, a pull rod connected with said member for moving the same out. of the gap in the opposite direction, and a spring tending to hold said bridging member in its circuit closing position against the action of the fluid pressure actuated device.

7. A circuit breaker comprisin in combination, a pair of angularly disposed spaced contact springs,having their adjacent extremities curved backwardly into the gap between such springs, and a rocking member provided at one end with a roller adapted to fit into the gap between said springs to complete the circuit, and movable in either direction from the gap by a rolling motion along one or the other of the curved spring ends, the spring end being flexed back to permit the roller to pass from the gap and subsequently engaging the roller and tending to hold the roller in this circuit breaking position.

8. A circuit breaker comprising, in combination, a pair of angularly dis osed spaced contact springs having their ad acent extremities bent backwardly into the gap between said springs, a rocking member provided at one end with a roller adapted to fit into the gap between said springs, a fluid pressure actuated device for rocking said member in one direction out of the gap, and a pull rod for rocking said member out of the gap in the other direction.

9. A circuit breaker comprising, in combination, a pair of angularly disposed spaced contact springs having their adjacent extremities bent backwardly into the gap between said springs, a rocking member provided at one end with a roller adapted to fit into the gap between said springs, a fluid pressure actuated device for rocking said member in one direction out of the gap, a pull rod for rocking said member out of the gap in the other direction, and a spring which tends to hold the rocking member in its circuit closing position against the action of said fluid pressure actuating device.

10. A circuit breaker comprising in combination, a pair of angularly disposed spaced contact springs, having their adjacent extremities curved backwardly into the gap between said springs, and a rocking contact member having an end portion adapted to fit into the gap between the spring ends to complete the circuit, and movable in either direction from the gap by forcing back one of the curved spring ends, which spring end subsequently engages the movable contact member and tends to hold same yieldably in this circuit breaking position.

11. A circuit breaker comprising, in combination, a pair of spaced contact springs and a bridging member which is pivoted and provided with a roller adapted to be inter-- posed in the gap between said springs so as to have a wiping contactwith the springs when moved into and out of its circuit closing position, one of said springs being formed so as to bear against and hold said bridging member in one of its circuit breaking positions. 7

12. In a circuit breaker, the combination of a pair of spaced contact springs, a pivoted bridging member, a contact roller on said bridging member adapted to be interposed in circuit closing position in the gap between said contact springs, a spring tending to move'said bridging member from a circuit breaking position against one of said springs into the gap between said springs, mechanism for moving the bridging member out of the gap in the direction of said last mentioned spring, and manually operated means for moving said bridging member out of the gap in the direction of the other spring.

13. Ina circuit breaker, the combination of a pair of spaced contact springs, a pivoted bridging member, a contact roller on said bridging member adapted to be interosed in circuit closing position in the gap etween said contact springs, a spring tending to move said bridging member froma circuit breaking position against one of said contact springs into the gap between said contact springs, mechanism for moving the bridging member out of the gap in the direction of said last mentioned spring, and manually operated means for moving said bridging member out of the gap in the direction of the other spring, said last named spring being formed so as to hold said bridging member in said last named circuit breaking position.

14. A circuit breaker comprising, in combination, a pair of spaced contacts and a member to bridge the gap between the same which is bodily movable out of said gap and out of engagement with one or the other of the contacts in opposite directions, one of said contacts consisting of a spring flexed by movement of the bridging member out ot-the gap and having a configuration whereby holds said bridging member in its circuit breaking position on that side of the gap.

15. A circuit breaker comprising, in combination, a pair of spaced contacts and a member to bridge the gap between the same which is movable out of said gap in opposite directions, one of said contacts consisting of a spring having a configuration whereby it holds said bridging member in its circuit breaking position on 'that side of the gap, and a spring which tends to move saidbridg ing member intosaid gap from the direction of the other contact.

16. In a circuit breaker, the combination of a pair of spaced spring contacts, a memher to bridge the space between said contacts, manually operated means for moving said bridging member out of said gap and along one of said contacts, mechanism for moving said bridging member from said last named position, or its position in said gap,

to a position on the other side of said gap and hold it there, and a spring which tends to move said bridging member from the position last mentioned into the gap.

17. In a circuit breaker, the combination of a pair of spaced spring contacts, a menu ber to bridge the space between said contacts, manually operated means for moving said bridging member out of said gap and along one of said contacts. fluid pressure actuated mechanism for moving said bridging member from said last named position, or its position in said gap, to a position on the other side of said gap, and a spring whichtends to move said bridging member from the position last mentioned into the gap.

18. In a circuit breaker, the combination of a pair of spaced spring contacts, a mem her to bridge the space between said contacts, manually operated means for moving said bridging member out of said gap and along one of said contacts, said contacts being formed so as to hold the bridging member in said circuit breaking position, mechanism for moving said bridging member from said last named position, or its position in said gap, to a position on the other side of said gap, and a spring which tends to move said bridging member from the position last mentioned into the gap.

19. A circuit breaker comprising, in combination, a pair of spaced contact springs, a pivoted bridging member, a contact roller on one end of said member adapted to bridge the gap between said contact sorings, a fluid pressure cylinder, a piston in said cylinder having a stem spaced from the bridging member when the latter is in its circuit closing position and there is no fluid pressure in the cylinder, and adapted to be thrust against the bridging member when the fluid pressure is introduced into the cylinder to move said bridging member out of the gap between said contact springs, a spring which returns said bridging member to its circuit closing position when pressure in the inder disappears, and manually operated means for rocking the bridging member out of the gap in the direction opposite to that of its movement under action of said piston, the contact spring at this side of the gap being formed so as to hold said bridging member in said last named circuit breaking position.

20. A circuitv breaker comprising, in combination, a pair of spaced contact springs. a bridging member adapted to be interposed in the gap between said springs, a fluid pressure actuated device for moving said bridging member in one direction out of said gap, and manually operated means for moving the bridging member out of said gap in the other direction and for returning same to its bridging position.

21. A circuit breaker,comprising, in combination, a pair of s aced contact springs; a bridging member adapted to be interposed in circuit closing position in the gap between raid springs. a fluid pressure actuated device for moving said bridging member in one direction out of said gap. and an operating element connected with said member for moving the same out of the gap in the opposite direction and for returning the same to its bridging position. i

22. A circuit breaker comprising a movable contact member adapted to assume different positions for making and breaking a circuit, a fluid pressure device for controlling the movements of said contact member, and manually operable means operable only in the absence of fluid pressure in said fluid pressure device for moving said contact member back and forth between its make and break positions.

23. A circuit breaker comprising a movable contact member adapted to assume different positions for making and breaking a circuit, a fluid pressure device which when subject to fluid pressure moves the contact member to break the circuit, means for automatically returning the contact member to a circuit making position in the absence of fluid pressure in the device, and manually operable means, operable only in the absence of fluid pressure in said fluid pressure device for moving said contact member from at making to a breaking position and from a breaking to a making position.

24. In a circuit breaker, a pair of spaced contact springs and an oscillatory bridging member bodily movable in either direction out of the gap between the contact springs so as to cont act with only one of the springs, the latter being formed so as to flex with the oscillatory movements of the bridging member thereby tending to hold said member in the gap or at either side thereof to which it may have been moved.

25. A circuit breaker comprising a pair of spaced fixed contacts, a bridging member movable out of the gap between said contacts in oppo'site directions, means tending to move said bridging member into the gap from one side thereof, a fluid pressure de vice which when under pressure moves said member to the oii' position on the aforesaid side of the gap from either of its other positions, and means, operable only in the absence of pressure in said device, for moving posithe oli position 011 the aforesaid side of the gap from either of its other positions, and means, operable only in the absence of pressure in said device, for moving said member in either direction between the gap and the other off position.

27. A circuit breaker com rising a movable contact member adapted to be moved from a circuit making position to either of two different circuit breaking positions, automatically operable means for moving the contact member to one circuit breaking position and holding it there, and manna 1y operable means operable only when the automatic means is inoperative for moving said contact member to and from its circuit making position and the other circuit breaking position.

28. A circuit breaker comprising a movable contact member adapted to be moved from a circuit making position to either of two diiferent circuit breaking positions, a fluid pressure operated device for moving the contact member to one circuit breaking position, means operable .in the absence of fluid pressure to return the'contact member to contact making position, and manually operable means operable only in the absence of fluid pressure in the fluid pressure operated device for moving the contact member to and from its circuit making position and the other circuit breaking position.

PAUL B. PARKS. JOHN VAN VULPEN. 

